Was George Washington Really a Christian?

Townhall ^ | 07/11/2019 | Jerry Newcombe

[SeekAndFind]

In a San Francisco high school named after the father of our country, George Washington, a large mural of him that has been around for decades is now being painted over because some were offended by it.

As the cultural Marxists in the thrall of political correctness take over more and more of the institutions of our nation, we can expect this kind of scrubbing away of our heritage.

George Washington sacrificed a lot to win us our freedoms. But today, he is being cast down by some of the “social justice warriors” as if he was more of a villain than a hero.

He did regrettably own slaves. But we must also keep in mind that he was the heir of a slave-owning family in a time when slavery was commonplace---and he decided by the end of his life that he would release his slaves, something highly unusual for the time.

For most of our nation’s history, our first president under the Constitution was considered a hero. He was also believed to be a Christian. But in the last few generations, he has been categorized as more of a Deist than as a Christian. I don’t think that is accurate, and I said as such as a guest on Lauren Green’s podcast, “Lighthouse Faith.” She is the religion editor for Fox News.

I co-authored a book on the faith of George Washington with Dr. Peter Lillback, the president of Westminster Theological Seminary and of the Providence Forum. It’s calledGeorge Washington’s Sacred Fire. He and I have a series of podcasts exploring virtually every issue related to Washington’s faith, including doubts that he was Christian.

The bottom line on George Washington and his faith is that, from all outward appearances, he was a devout 18th century Anglican with all that that would entail. He was a regular reader of the Bible. His speeches and writings (public and private) are dripping with biblical phrases. It is as if you were to cut the man, he would bleed Scripture.

George Washington attended church every opportunity he could. But people raise some objections to the idea of Washington the Christian.

We deal with all of them systematically in our book. But just to summarize some of the main points:

* Washington did not receive communion, supposedly, because he did not believe in Christ’s atonement. Wrong. He participated in communion earlier in life. Then when he led the rebellion against King George III, the head of the Church of England (the Anglican Church, which became in America the Episcopal Church), he ceased to commune in those churches (not other churches)---at least as long as the war lasted. He did on occasion receive communion after that, even in the Episcopal Church, such as on the day he was inaugurated, April 30, 1789 at the two-hour Christian worship service at St. Paul’s Chapel (in New York City).

* He was a Mason, and therefore could not have been a Christian. Yet he only attended Masonic functions about once a decade. Also, Lillback notes that the Masons in Washington’s day held an annual Christian worship service where an evangelical minister would preach.

* Washington used elaborate names for God. Lillback notes that that was his baroque style. Washington spoke of God so reverently that he would use fancy words to describe the Almighty---which was also a custom of the evangelical preachers of America in his day.

* Washington supposedly avoided the name of Jesus. But he said to the Delaware Indian chiefs in 1779: “You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are.” He said in 1783 to all the governors of the states that unless we as a nation imitate “the divine Author of our blessed religion” (that would be Jesus), we can never hope to be a happy nation. Washington said to his troops after Valley Forge, “To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should to be our highest Glory to add the more distinguished Character of Christian.” And on it goes.

George Washington’s adopted granddaughter, Nellie Custis, was asked after he died about his faith. She said that you might as well question his patriotism as question his Christianity. Of course, today, American patriotism seems to be on the chopping block. So people who want to rewrite history are yanking Washington out of his 18th century Anglican context, making him out to be a non-believer, and nowadays, even making him out to be more of a bad guy than a good guy. Such is the state of America’s gratitude today for all his sacrifices that we might be a free country.

-- Jerry Newcombe, D.Min., is an on-air host/senior producer for D. James Kennedy Ministries.

[cuban leaf]

We’ll have to ask God after we die.

This reminds me of the three “surprises” you will get when you go to heaven:
1. You don’t see people there that you expected to see there.
2. You see people there that you did not expect to see there.
3. You’re there.

[MichaelCorleone]

“George Washington sacrificed a lot to win us our freedoms.”

An understatement if I ever saw one.

[Fiddlstix]

YES!

[TheTimeOfMan]

President Washington was a man, and therefore, imperfect.

But these SJW’s are not fit to clean his feet with their tongues. Their level of ignorance and arrogance is nauseating.

[Ouderkirk]

It was painted by a communist

[Little Ray]

Yes.
Next question?

[Darteaus94025]

What does an atheist pray for on their deathbed?

Nothing. Their fervent prayer is that nothing is on the other side.

[sparklite2]

If an atheist thought there was something
on the other side, he wouldn’t be a proper
atheist. I’ll spend my time, I think,
remembering life and what a kick it was.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Yes. Next question?

_________________

Next question: I’d like some concrete evidence ( and BTW, I hope you’re right ).

[Mrs. Don-o]

And...?

[SaintDismas]

https://catholicism.org/george-washington-died-a-catholic.html

[reg45]

Probably a WPA project. Sponsored by the FDR administration.

[kenmcg]

What does it matter? He was a damn good President and the founding father of our country. If there is a heaven he’ll be there.

[Old Yeller]

If you’re surprised you’re in heaven, then you are expecting your works to get you there. In which case you won’t be going to heaven if you think it’s up to you.

[cuban leaf]

It’s just a comical statement to make the point made in points 1 and 2. ;)

[frogjerk]

If your surprised you are in heaven then you are humble of heart and not presumptuous.

[Ouderkirk]

It was a WPA project in the 1930 and painted by a communist.

Tucker Carlson had a guest on in his show last night in the last segment who talked about this painting. I forget his name but it was most illuminating

[Albion Wilde]

Ping!

[Ezekiel]

Was George Washington Really a Christian?

Matthew 7:16-20*

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Which is even more relevant considering the paradoxical situation involving the Cherry Tree Myth.

*7/16-20:

Next week, one of Washington, D.C.’s most iconic landmarks will be transformed into a launching pad for the 363-foot rocket that first brought man to the moon.

As the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum announced in a press release, a full-sized projection of Saturn V—the rocket that sent Apollo 11 into orbit on July 16, 1969—will grace the east face of the Washington Monument from 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on July 16, 17 and 18.

The “once-in-a-lifetime celebration” will continue over the next two nights, July 19 and 20, with a series of 17-minute shows combining full-motion projection-mapping artwork and archival footage to share the story of the Apollo 11 launch and subsequent moon landing.

According to the museum, the free performance, dubbed “Apollo 50: Go for the Moon,” is set to take place at 9:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. both Friday and Saturday. The immersive experience will feature full sound, projection screens and a 40-foot-wide recreation of the Kennedy Space Center countdown clock.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/life-sized-apollo-11-rocket-will-be-projected-washington-monument-commemorate-50th-anniversary-moon-landing-180972590/

Was George Washington Really a Christian?

by their fruits ye shall know them: